Bow-facing self-feathering paddle for boats.



No. 633,081.` Patented Nnv. 2s, |899. J. A. WALKER. BOW FAGING SELFFEATHERING PADDLE FUR BOATS. (Appueion mea Aug. 15', 1s9s.) (No Model.)LA5 A? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. WALKER, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

BOW-FACING SELF-FEATHERING PADADLE FOR BOATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,081, dated November28, 1899.

'Application filed August 15, 1898. Serial No. 688,657. (No model.) l

To @ZZ whom it www] con/cern: i

Be it known that I, JAMES A. WALKER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Rockone side of a boatconstructed as contemplated by my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the same, showing the paddle turning to enter the water for thestroke and in dotted lines illustrating the position of the paddle as itreturns edgewise through the Water. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view ofthe main bearing of the apparatus, broken away to show the interiorarrangement of the parts thereof. Fig. 4 is a face view of thegoverning-segment, the peculiar conformation of the periphery of whichturns the paddle for feathering. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of thesleeve which surrounds the arm of the paddle.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views.

A is the propelling-paddle.

A is the arm or handle thereof.

A2 is a sleeve for surrounding the handle of the paddle A.

A3 is a circular collar secured to the sleeve A2 at its upper end.

A4 is a rectangular collar iixed on the lower end of the sleeve A2.

A5 is an eccentric clamp for securing the handle A of the paddle Awithin the sleeve A2.

B is an oscillatory bracket for surrounding the sleeve A2, within whichbracket the sleeve is journaled. The collars A3 and A4 hold thesleeve`A2 within the bracket B.

B' is a horizontally-extending shaft, upon the end of which the bracketB is fixed. B2 is a hand-lever having a connection with the opposite endof the shaft B.

B3 is a thu mbscrew which permits an adj ustment of the hand-lever B2with reference to thev length of the lever.

B4 is an enlarged portion of the shaft B.

C is the supporting journalbox for the shaft B', so arranged as topermit an endwise movement of the said shaft with reference to the box.

C is a spiral spring coiled around the shaft B' and lying between' aportion of the journal-box C and the shoulder formed by the enlargedportion B4 of the shaft B'. This arrangement of the spring C' permits anout- Ward movement of the shaft B with relation to the box C against thetension of the spring C.

D is the governing-segment for feathering the oar. Its curvingperipheral surface is traversed by the rectangular collar A4 as thepaddle A is moved backward and forward. D' and D2 are notches ordepressions in the said surface, into one of which depressions an angleof the collar A4 is drawn by the spring C at each extremity of thepaddle movement and by means of which engagement the sleeve A2 is turneda quarter of a revolution in the oscillating bracket B. The paddle Abeing secured in the sleeve A2 of course is turned with it. By means ofthis engagement and the consequent quarter-turn of the paddle A at eachstroke thereof the paddle is caused to feather on the return stroke,being quarter-turned at the end of the return stroke, so that it is flatagainst the water on a direct stroke.

DB are 'antifriction rollers projecting slightly above the surface ofthe governingsegment D and are intended to be engaged by the rectangularcollar A4.

E is a supporting-frame for the mechanism, secured by bolts to theseat-board E. The seat-board E maybe put into any boat, being held inposition therein by the action of the turn-button E2, engaging theusualseatrests E3 in boats.

In operation one of the rowing-heads just described is secured in eitherside of a boat, the oarsman taking his position between them, facing thebow of the boat and grasping the hand-levers B2. The handles of theselevers are set at a slight angle with and a little in advance of thepaddles for greater-ease of movement and better position. A backward andforward movement of the handles produces a corresponding movement of thepaddles.

Should it become desirable to reverse the IOS action of the paddles oreither of them upon the Water, as in backing the boat or in turning it,the paddle may be turned half-Way around by throwing it twice to theextremity of the stroke before taking a complete stroke instead of onlyonce to produce aquarter-turn of the paddle for feathering.

l. In a self-feathering paddle, in combination, a paddle-blade, a handletherefor, a sleeve xed on the handle which sleeve has a rectangularcollar, an oscillatory shaft, a lever for actuating the shaft and agoverningsegment having two indentations in its peripheral surface forengaging the rectangular collar of the sleeve and turning the paddle forfeathering, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a self-feathering paddle, in combination, a paddle-blade, a handletherefor, a sleeve on the handle, which sleeve has a rectangular collar,an oscillatory shaft for supporting the paddle, which shaft is capableof an endwise movement, a spring for the shaft, a governing-segmenthaving an irregular peripheral surface for engaging the rectangularcollar and turning the paddle for feathering, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

3. In a self-feathering paddle, in combination, a paddle-blade, a handletherefor, a sleeve having a rectangular collar, an eccentric clamp forsecuring the sleeve to the handle, an oscillatory shaft, a bracket xedto the shaft surrounding the sleeve, a lever for actuating the shaft,and a governing-segment having an irregular peripheral surface forengaging the rectangular collar and turning the paddle for featheringalso having two antifriction-rollers in said surface, substantially asand for the purpose specified.

JAMES A. VALKER. A Vitn'esses:

L. L. MILLER, NELLIE BUNKER.

